IRONMAN Championships: Kona and Beyond

The IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii is the most iconic one-day sporting event in the world, but it’s not the only championship event on the IRONMAN calendar. The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship heads to a new country each year, a unique format that showcases the many enticing places that IRONMAN races take place.

In addition, there are five regional IRONMAN championship races and four regional IRONMAN 70.3 championships set in some of the sport's top locations. For professional athletes, championship events offer increased prize money, ranking points, and at the IRONMAN distance, automatic Kona qualification. Age group athletes compete for more world championship qualifying slots and increased All World Athlete points.

IRONMAN World Championship

Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, United States

The IRONMAN World Championship takes place in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i every October. In addition to the 1,900 professional and age-group qualifiers, 100 Legacy athletes compete in the world's most prestigious triathlon.

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

Started in 2006, the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship pits the world's premier short and middle-distance athletes against the best IRONMAN competitors in the world.

2017: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Known throughout the Southeastern U.S. as the Scenic City due to its proximity to Lookout Mountain, striking riverfront and vibrant downtown, Chattanooga lures athletes with its dramatic backdrop, idyllic weather and low-key southern charm. Already host to annual IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events, Chattanooga provides a fast course with a swim in the Tennessee River. Four bridges cross the river over the swim and a pedestrian Riverwalk runs along the entire swim course making it ideal for spectators. Chattanooga is full of attractions, eclectic dining spots and great places to stay.

2018:Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

The event will venture for the first time to South Africa, which has hosted a popular IRONMAN race for over 10 years. Nicknamed "The Friendly City," Port Elizabeth was founded in 1820 and has steadily grown into an economic hub of more than 300,000 inhabitants. In 2010, Port Elizabeth played host to eight games of the FIFA World Cup held in the country. It is also considered the southernmost large city on the continent, just south of Cape Town.

2019:Nice, France

As the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes on the French Riviera in the southeast coast of France, Nice first hosted an IRONMAN event in 2005 and since then has been one of the most popular locations on the IRONMAN race circuit.. The world championship is the pinnacle event in the IRONMAN 70.3 calendar and with global rotation that began in 2014, it showcases the best venues IRONMAN has to offer around the world.

The Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship takes place in one of America's first master-planned communities, just north of Houston. Set in a beautiful resort area, the IRONMAN North American Championship offers a fast course in Kona-like heat and humidity, making it a great experience for those who aspire to compete at the IRONMAN World Championship someday.

Cairns, Australia

Cairns is the new home of the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship, situated at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Set in one of the world’s most iconic tropical locations and boasting a stunning backdrop that will take your breath away.

Frankfurt, Germany

With one of the most epic finishes in the sport, the IRONMAN European Championship routinely features a fast course and competitive fields. Hundreds of thousands of spectators line the course to cheer the athletes on.

Regional IRONMAN 70.3 Championships

Set in the stunning mountainous area of southern Utah, the IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship has one of the most scenic courses on the IRONMAN schedule. It's also one of the toughest, which makes this a classic event.

Elsinore, Denmark

Home of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Elsinore plays host to the IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship. Swim in the majestic harbor area, cycle in the beautiful countryside, and run in stunning Elsinore city and along the majestic Kronborg Castle.

Western Sydney, Australia

The IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship heads to the Western Sydney in 2017. The championship event was held at Philippines, Cebu in 2016 and moves to IRONMAN 70.3 Western Sydney, Australia in 2017, with spectacular views of the Blue Mountains and a swim in the iconic Penrith Lakes.

Clubs will battle it out for top TriClub Podium honours at events throughout the season for eligibility to compete for the Championship Title at the Oceania TriClub Championship Final in 2017 at IRONMAN Australia | IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie.

Los Cabos, Mexico

TriClubs will duke it out for top honors in the the heat, sun and sand of IRONMAN 70.3 Los Cabos. Athletes will be experience the golden sandy beach ocean swim, the all new flat and fast bike course and gentle rolling 21 km run.